Woman dies from injuries in Tuesday head-on collision

Kari Barnes was on her way to pick up medicine for her 8-year-old daughter who was suffering from a sore throat Tuesday afternoon when tragedy struck.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

Kari Barnes was on her way to pick up medicine for her 8-year-old daughter who was suffering from a sore throat Tuesday afternoon when tragedy struck.Barnes, a 28-year-old student at Davidson County Community College, was driving a Chevrolet Cavalier when her vehicle was struck in a head-on collision on N.C. Highway 150 South in Tyro. She was pronounced dead Wednesday afternoon at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, a spokeswoman with the N.C. Highway Patrol confirmed Thursday morning.The accident occurred at 3:06 p.m. near John M. Ward Road. “Kari was a fun-loving girl,” said Mike Kendrick, the boyfriend of Kari's mother, Karolyn Underwood. “She always focused on her kids and took care of her kids with all the means she had. She was trying to go back to school.”Kari's goal was to complete a degree in histology at DCCC.The Highway Patrol said a Ford Mustang, driven by Charles Anthony Branham, 21, of Wafford Circle, was traveling north on N.C. 150 and crossed the center line, striking her vehicle head-on. The Cavalier contained Barnes, her two children, Kaleb, 9, Alexa, 8, and Kendrick's granddaughter, Zoei Puckett, 9, all of the same address as Kari Barnes. All, including the three children who attend Churchland Elementary School, were taken to WFBMC. Alexa was in good condition, and Kaleb and Zoei had been treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said Thursday morning.Kari Barnes, who was trapped inside the vehicle, was unconscious when first responders arrived. According to the Highway Patrol, Branham's original travel speed and speed at impact was 55 miles per hour. Barnes' original travel speed and speed at impact was 50 mph. The speed limit is 55 mph in that section of N.C. 150.Kearns said the factor in the accident was crossing the center line. She said alcohol did not appear to be involved.Kendrick said Kari was the youngest of four children. Thursday morning, he said Kari's mother was out visiting one of her daughter's brothers to inform him of her death. “It's really taken a toll on her,” Kendrick said. “I have never seen Karolyn hurt. As far as losing a kid, I don't think I could deal with it. (Karolyn) realizes she's got to make it through (this) for the grandkids.”Kendrick said he and Karolyn work night shift and were sleeping when they received the devastating phone call. He said they also lived with Kari and the three children.“We were just kind of in a daze driving down the road,” Kendrick said.They arrived to find multiple troopers and firefighters on the scene. “It's difficult to get through the grieving and tell the children what's going on,” Kendrick said. “(Karolyn has) went three days without sleeping. We are just going to have to deal with it a day at a time.”Tessa Kendrick, Zoei's mother, said doctors were keeping a close check on Alexa late Thursday morning. She said Kaleb was home and was up all night crying.Kearns said charges, which will be determined by the Davidson County District Attorney's Office, are pending.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.